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The graphic display shows a graph of the share prices for the currently loaded share file.
The horizontal blue line is the companies maximum value and the red is the minimum.
Monthly and yearly indicators are also displayed on this sample.
12. The Graph. Display the graph and try re-sizing it. Enlarge the graph until it almost fills the screen with the menu still visible. Select the following menu options File and then Load. The Load file box is displayed.
Click on the Exchange index radio button in the bottom right of the box. This lists the files used to record the stock exchange indexes. There should be two samples provided FT.IND ( FT100 ) and DOW.IND ( USA Dow Jones ). Select the FT.IND file and then select the OK button. The FT100 index file will be loaded and the graph will be updated with this data.
Experiment with the Graph menu options note how the indicator lines can be displayed or removed by re-selecting the options. Options marked with a tick are selected, the tick is removed when the option is not selected.
13. Preparing and Viewing Reports. Prepare the reports by selecting the following menu options Reports and then Prepare report data. You will not be able to display reports until they have been prepared. This process must be repeated whenever you wish to update the reports. Depending on the speed of your computer this process may take a few seconds or a couple of minutes. If you are using Windows 3.1, or Workgroups you may wish to use SMARTDRV this is a DOS driver that provides disk caching and speeds up all of your file handling processes. Refer to your DOS manuals on how to install SMARTDRV if it is required. Windows95 does not require SMARTDRV.
Display each of the reports. You will see that they are very similar apart from the first column of data. They are sorted appropriately for the subject of the report. The dividend report for example is displayed with the share file paying the highest dividend at the top of the list. ( Please note that this information is only as accurate as the information entered ). Always cross check the results with a newspaper or financial advisor before making decisions on buying or selling shares.
14. Moving or duplicating files. It is possible to make a backup of the files by selecting the File and then Move files option. Use this with extreme care. Do not change the working directory unless that is your intention.
Do not delete the existing files when making a backup copy. Never delete the original installation directory even if the share files have been moved elsewhere, because the program files will still be required.
15. Initial Settings. Take a look at the Initial settings dialog box by selecting the following menu options Edit and then Initial settings. As its name implies it is used to set the initial settings for the program and menu options. These settings have no effect until the program is restarted.
Select the help button if you are unsure about the use of any of these options.
These default settings can be changed at any time. If you change any of these settings from using the menu commands the changes are not permanent. They will be reset the next time the application is run.
16. Other menu options. Experiment with the other menu options. Particularly the printout options, which you may find useful for producing a permanent record of the share or portfolio status.
Other menu items to try are as follows:
File | Print Edit | Color Window | Legend Window | Status Help | …….. for access to all for the Help Text files.
Once you have finished experimenting delete any test files you created using the File | Delete menu option.
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